Information for Artists

Thank you for taking the time to visit our site! The Port Warwick Art & Sculpture Festival is a gathering of many talented, diverse, and most creative artists from across the country. We search for qualified artists who continue to challenge themselves to achieve a higher artistic level both in subject matter and technique.

Our Media Categories include: Ceramics, Drawing & Graphics, Glass, Fiber, Furniture, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Sculpture -Domestic, Sculpture - Monumental, Wood, Other. (Please see Standards of Eligibility for more information on media requirements)

Please click on a category below or scroll down for more information:

Please contact Denise Olsen, Executive Director or Jessica Sutton, Co-Director for any further inquiries at 757-369-3014 or at PWArtFest@cox.net. Thank you!

Quick Facts about PWA&SF

• No more than 120 Artists accepted
• $10,000 in Award Money
• 24 hour security
• Free Program & Artist Listing
• Artist Gallery posted on Festival website
• 10 Monumental Permanant & Temporary sculptures on Festival site
• Award Winning, Upscale pedestrian-oriented community
• A Community that Embraces the Arts
• 3,000+ patrons per day
• Southern Hospitality
• Friendly hard working volunteers
• Assistance with Load in & Load Out
• Champagne Artist Awards Brunch
• Discounted Hotel Rates
• Flat, affordable booth fee, no commission

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Standards of Eligibility

Scroll down to read all Standards of Eligibility or select a category below to jump to a desired section:

Media Categories
Art & Booth Regulations
Original Works & Reproductions
Artist Details during festival

DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL ACCEPTABLE MEDIA & CATEGORIES

Ceramics: Functional and non-functional clay works excluding clay jewelry and clay sculpture. No part of the finished pieces shall be the result of mass production.

Drawing & Graphics: Work created using dry media such as chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil or crayon or from fluid media such as ink applied by pen or brush.  Printed works for which the artist crafts the plates, stones or screens and pulls the prints.

Fiber: Any work created from fibers, including leatherwork, basketry, papermaking, weaving, etc. No machine tooling, machine screening or any form of mass production is permitted.  T-shirts and commercial clothing are ineligible. 

Furniture: Functional tables, chairs, screens, desks, beds, etc. crafted from any material.

Glass: Functional and non-functional. No part of the finished pieces shall be the result of mass production. Pressed glass objects are not permitted.

Jewelry: Personal Adornment. Original and unique designs incorporating any of the following: gold, silver, gemstones, glass, wood, clay, and other non-precious materials.  Exclusions: strung pearls, craft-clay, and use of commercial casts or molds.  Loose stones may not be sold.

Mixed Media: Includes 2-D and 3-D non-sculptural work incorporating more than one type of physical material or processes in its production (for example, an etching which is then painted; a collage of handmade paper and photography).

Sculpture – Large: Defined as over three (3) feet tall, functional and non-functional, 3-D work in any medium.  Eligible to apply for 2007 Sculpture Garden and Temporary Sculpture Program; contact PWA&SF Directors for application information! 

Sculpture – Small: Defined as less than three (3) feet tall, functional and non-functional, 3-D work in any medium.

Paintings: Original 2-D work created in oils, acrylics, watercolors, etc.

Photography: Limited-edition prints from the artist's original film or digital file. The edition shall not exceed 250 of any one image.

Wood: Works crafted from wood, excluding furniture and sculpture that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, machine-turned or machine-carved. No magnifying glasses, pens, bottle stoppers or catalog merchandise is permitted.

Other: Work that does not fall into the above categories.

Please review additional media specification requirements below that apply to all categories.

DISPLAYED WORK & BOOTH SPECIFICATIONS

1.  Please submit digital images or slides of artwork with the application that have been created within the last 2 years, defined as works conceived between 2005 to present. 

2.  Exhibited work must be consistent with the digital images or slides submitted by the artist and follow Festival guidelines.  The Port Warwick Foundation retains the right to remove any nonconforming artwork from the exhibition.  Further, the Foundation and their representatives also have the right to remove an artist for non-compliance of Festival rules.

3.  Paintings, graphics, prints and photographs must be appropriately framed or matted and must be displayed in a suitable panel, portfolio or stand.

4.  Only the work of the juried artist or collaborating team may be displayed and/or sold.

5.  There will be a $20 floor limit for all work sold.  Do not display sale or discount signs.

6.  Approximately 120 artist booths will be placed throughout festival grounds.  Each booth area is 10x10 with 3-foot alley behind the booth, all located on grassy terrain.  Tents and display equipment are the artist’s responsibility.  Electricity is not available to artists.

7.  All materials must be kept within the assigned booth area. Display, bins, or work cannot extend out into traffic areas.

ORIGINAL WORK

1.  All original pieces must be signed.

2.  Work produced with commercial kits (molds, patterns, plans, prefabricated forms, or other commercial methods) is not permitted.

REPRODUCTIONS

1.  Reproductions include but are not limited to the following: silk screen, lithographs, intaglio, etchings, engraving, and giclee prints. 

2.  Whether framed or unframed, these must be clearly and individually labeled “REPRODUCTION” or “LIMITED EDITION REPRODUCTION.”

3.  Reproductions must not be displayed in the same browse bins as original art work.

4.  However exhibited (bins, hanging, etc.), reproductions must not comprise more than 10% of your total booth display.    

5.  Limited edition and giclee prints of no more than 250 from one source will be permitted.

ARTIST DETAILS

1.  Artists may exhibit work in two or more categories if they have applied and have been accepted in each category.

2.  Art displayed in artists’ booths must fit the media category/categories for which they were juried (i.e. an artist juried only in the ceramic medium, may not display ceramic jewelry).

3.  Artists must personally attend their booth for the duration of the Festival.  Booth sitters are available to artists for short breaks.  Smoking is not permitted in booth area or in patron shopping area.

4.  Artists will be expected to adhere to the Festival Rules. Our Standards Committee will review booths daily to ensure compliance.

5.  This is a rain or shine event; no refunds will be given for cancellation due to weather. For questions concerning weather, as the festival nears artists may call the artist hotline at:

HOTLINE:
757-369-3032

Please contact Denise Olsen, Executive Director or Jessica Sutton, Co-Director for any further inquiries at 757-369-3014 or at PWArtFest@cox.net. Thank you!

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